Cultural Beliefs and Ethical Reasoning in Counselling Practice among Postgraduate Counsellor Trainees in Nairobi Kenya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.68050/JAMS.2026.755Keywords:
Cultural Beliefs, Ethical Reasoning, Postgraduate counsellor trainees, Counselling ethics.Abstract
Balancing ethical dilemmas in the context of cultural beliefs and ethical reasoning is a delicate balance among postgraduate counsellor trainees in Nairobi. This qualitative research study aimed to examine postgraduate counsellor trainees’ lived experiences of ethical reasoning in relation to cultural beliefs in counselling practice. The study was guided by four research objectives: To examine postgraduate counsellor trainees’ lived experiences of ethical reasoning in relation to cultural beliefs in counselling practice, to identify common ethical dilemmas that emerge in counselling practice within the context of cultural beliefs, to assess the institutional and supervisory supports that shape ethical practice among post graduate counsellor trainees and to explore strategies counsellor trainees employ in navigating ethical decision-making in culturally sensitive contexts. The study utilized an explorative research design with purposive sampling technique to select 10 postgraduate counsellor trainees (n=10) for the study. The study was anchored by the theory of Ethics of Care. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from the participants and thematic analysis was used to analyse data and identify recurring patterns and meanings from participants' narratives on cultural beliefs and ethical reasoning. Five key themes emerged from the data: - (a) Tension between cultural beliefs and professional ethical standards, (b) facing ethical dilemmas in real-life practice, (c) Personal values and cultural identity on ethical reasoning, (d) Training, supervision and institutional support, (e) and navigating ethical decision making. The findings of this study brought to light the critical ethical implications, including the urgent need for culturally responsive training in institutions, strong supervision procedures and regulatory frameworks to support postgraduate counsellor trainees in navigating complex ethical challenges. This study also amplified the voices of postgraduate counsellor trainees in contributing to the development of counselling practice in Kenya in regards to balancing cultural beliefs and ethical reasoning in practice.
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